Authored by Eva Fu & Frank Fang via The Epoch Times,

China’s state-owned broadcaster has rescinded international wire agency access to a hot mic video of Chinese and Russian leaders discussing longevity and organ transplants, an effort that shows the Chinese regime’s fear of attention on the topic, critics say.

The open mic exchange between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping took place in Beijing on Sept. 3, as the two leaders walked together ahead of a military parade commemorating World War II.

Xi at the parade told Putin that “these days at 70 you are still a child,” prompting Putin to remark that continued organ transplants could allow one to live younger and even reach immortality. Xi in response said that it is predicted that there’s a chance of humans living to 150 years old.

The conversation became global news and sparked discussions about the Chinese regime’s state-sanctioned forced organ harvesting, a taboo topic in China. CCTV has since taken down the livestream video that captured the exchange and removed the moment from replays.

CCTV also sent a letter through its lawyer to Reuters—which licensed the video through CCTV and edited it into a four-minute clip—requesting the news agency to remove the footage on the grounds that the clips Reuters published exceeded the agreed-upon scope.

CCTV lawyer He Danning claimed Reuters’ “editorial treatment applied to this material has resulted in a clear misrepresentation of the facts and statements contained within the licensed feed.”

Reuters withdrew the video and issued a “kill” notice to its clients on Sept. 5. The agency said it had earlier distributed the clip to more than 1,000 media clients around the world, including major international news broadcasters and TV stations.

In a statement, Reuters said it was removing the content because it no longer has the legal permission to publish this copyrighted material.

“We stand by the accuracy of what we published. We have carefully reviewed the published footage, and we have found no reason to believe Reuters longstanding commitment to accurate, unbiased journalism has been compromised,” Reuters stated.

According to the London-based China Tribunal, forced organ harvesting has taken place in China for years “on a significant scale,” and practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual group are the primary victims. It said that persecuted religious minorities including Uyghurs are also potential targets. Since 1999, millions of Falun Gong practitioners have been incarcerated in prisons, labor camps, and other facilities, with hundreds of thousands tortured and untold numbers persecuted to death, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center.

The International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC), an Australian advocacy group comprising lawyers, medical professionals, researchers, and human rights advocates, said it was not surprised by CCTV’s demand, considering that organ transplants in China “are linked to crimes against humanity.”

“The now-withdrawn ‘hot mic’ recording between Xi and Putin highlighted the possibility of using organ transplants to seek immortality, rather than to treat seriously ill patients,” ETAC said in a statement to The Epoch Times.

“Such a conversation in China immediately raises the spectre of forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience.”

The group said the incident should be “a reminder of the responsibility of media outlets to resist undue influence, the necessity for governments to respect press freedom, and the urgency of addressing credible allegations of forced organ harvesting and other human rights abuses in China.”

“Efforts to suppress or dilute media coverage risk silencing victims and obstructing informed public debate. Independent journalism is critical in holding governments accountable, especially when issues involve systemic human rights violations.”

Two pieces of U.S. legislation that aim to sanction perpetrators of forced organ harvesting—the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act and the Falun Gong Protection Act—have already been approved by the House. The Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act of 2025, introduced a month ago to both the Senate and the House, seeks to expand sanctions of the existing law, the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020, regarding the human rights abuses in the predominantly Muslim Uyghur Xinjiang region.

“Each addresses forced organ harvesting in distinct ways, and swift passage is critical to avoid U.S. complicity in these crimes,” ETAC stated. “The international community cannot afford selective silence when fundamental human rights are at stake.”

Authored by William Brooks via The Epoch Times,

Late last December, Canadian businessman Kevin O’Leary, affectionately known as Mr. Wonderful, re-opened a longstanding public debate over the idea of “continentalism” in North America.

Within weeks after the re-election of President Donald Trump, O’Leary pitched the merits of an EU-style economic union between Canada and USA.

“I like this idea and at least half of Canadians are interested” he said.

Unfortunate Timing

As it happened, the timing of O’Leary’s proposal could not have been worse.

The credibility of his idea was instantly undermined by the incoming U.S. President’s controversial insistence that Canada should become the 51st state.

After Trump’s inauguration, Washington pivoted to hardball positions on tariffs and trade and it was clear there would be no special concessions for Canada. Signals from D.C. warned of tough USMCA trade negotiations to come.

In March, a beleaguered Justin Trudeau left office and former Bank of England President Mark Carney took over the Liberal Party of Canada. In April, Mr. Carney was elected prime minister, but his party fell short of winning a clear majority in the House of Commons.

The new Liberal government immediately adopted an “elbows up” disposition in the brewing trade war with the USA. By the summer of 2025, any talk of a Can-Am economic union was crowded out by strong feelings of resentment and ill will on both sides of the border.

An Idea Worth Revisiting

The idea of an EU-style Can-Am union has a long and respectable history and it is well worth revisiting.

After the British North America Act of 1867, Canadian scholar Goldwin Smith led a vigorous philosophical movement that supported closer ties with the USA in the form of a continental economic order. Smith defended the concept in a 1891 book titled “Canada and the Canadian Question.” Opposing movements favoured closer ties with the British Empire or total Canadian economic independence. Neither of the latter positions stood the test of time.

Today, the arguments for the development of a Can-Am union are more compelling than ever. Economic integration, the elimination of trade barriers, and the removal of regulatory mismatches could boost cross-border investment well beyond current USMCA levels. A strong shared currency would eliminate exchange rate volatility, reduce transaction costs, and improve price transparency. EU-style citizen mobility could reduce labour shortages, provide enormous opportunities for young workers, increase productivity, and fill demographic gaps created by aging populations.

Infrastructure and environmental coordination would support integrated transportation systems, energy production, and transnational communications networks. Coordinated pollution policies could establish reasonable emissions standards and enhance environmental protection without obstructing sorely needed drilling, mining, and manufacturing initiatives.

A larger unified market with consistent rules would incentivize investors. Harmonized policies would secure critical materials and technologies within North America and reduce dependency on hostile suppliers. A Can-Am union would bring together a population of some 388.8 million on 19.82 million square kilometres of territory with and a combined GDP of close to $32 trillion.

In the realm of education, mutual credential recognition, research collaboration, and professional mobility would multiply opportunities in a North American cultural market that could stand up to the Chinese Communist Party and other global influencers.

All in all, a new continental order would increase the geopolitical influence and security of citizens in both Canada and the USA. A unified bloc dedicated to Western democratic principles and free enterprise could rival the economic, diplomatic, and military weight of China, Russia, and other totalitarian regimes.

With a southern border wall already in place, our security could be further improved by a joint force that could act against illegal migration and drug smuggling at the water’s edge. Shared intelligence, cybersecurity, and a coordinated military would bolster North America’s defence systems in what has become a dangerous multipolar world.

Modelled after EU governance mechanisms, a North American commission or council could allow for cooperative decision-making without sacrificing national sovereignty. If historical adversaries like Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal can coexist in an economic union, why not Canada and the United States?

Resistance to Change May be Overcome by Facts on the Ground

As it was in the days of Goldwin Smith, there is still plenty of cross-border resistance to Mr. O’Leary’s continentalist proposal.

All manner of entrenched interests regard an economic union as overreach and fear the loss of personal power and control. Big Labour warns of downward pressure on salaries and benefits in an open job market. Canadian politicians fear being overwhelmed in an unbalanced partnership, and American lawmakers are reluctant to support anything that might dilute congressional supremacy.

But facts on the ground are leading to a kinder disposition toward the continental alternative. Among young, ambitious North Americans trapped in a collapsing middle-class there is a powerful yen for greater mobility and the new opportunities that bold change can invoke.

This is especially true on the Canadian side of the border. In 2024 alone, approximately 106,000 Canadians permanently left the country. This figure marked one of the highest outflows in recent memory. Some of the most commonly cited reasons for leaving are the soaring cost of living, low salaries, high taxes, limited career opportunities, and loss of confidence in government institutions. In spite of the anti-American rhetoric constantly served up by Canada’s legacy media, the United States remains the primary destination for departing Canadians. Over a million now live there.

So perhaps it’s time for a second look at Kevin O’Leary’s proposal. As the late British Prime Minister Harold Wilson once asserted: “He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery.”

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times or ZeroHedge.

Authored by Allen Stein via The Epoch Times,

In the shade of a tall fence along Central Avenue, a group of homeless people lingered in Albuquerque’s troubled International District as three squad cars and a medical vehicle swept onto the scene.

Police and first responders moved in quickly, scattering the group as a homeless woman began shouting epithets from the middle of the street.

Matthew, a resident of a nearby halfway house, stood at the edge of the turmoil and watched as the situation unfolded.

“They’re just making people leave, man,” he said, frowning.

“They give you a chance to leave. If you don’t leave, they give you another chance. If you don’t leave again, they just run your name.”

He said if the information shows there is an outstanding warrant, handcuffs come out.

Matthew, who did not want to share his last name, said police have been more visible in a neighborhood that has struggled with crime, homelessness, and drug use for a long time.

The display of force by law enforcement is anything but accidental.

On April 8, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham activated the New Mexico National Guard to assist Albuquerque police in addressing increased crime and safety concerns, particularly on busy Central Avenue.

This allowed officers to return to regular patrols and other duties.

The emergency request from the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) cited the fentanyl epidemic and rising violent juvenile crime as issues requiring immediate intervention.

“The safety of New Mexicans is my top priority,” Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, said in a statement.

“By deploying our National Guard to support APD with essential duties, we’re ensuring that trained police officers can focus on what they do best—keeping our communities safe.”

In May, 60 to 70 National Guard members were sent to the city for Operation Zia Shield. Their training was overseen by New Mexico’s Homeland Security, Public Safety, and local police agencies.

National Guard members have been assisting with tasks such as providing aid along Central Avenue, processing and transporting prisoners, maintaining security at Metro Court, and monitoring the city with police cameras and drones.

“The National Guard will serve as a visible, trusted presence supporting law enforcement duties, which will enhance officer presence in high-crime areas and reinforce community trust through visible engagement,” Lujan Grisham said.

Transit Police vehicles line Central Avenue within the International District in Albuquerque, N.M., on Sept. 3, 2025. Allan Stein/The Epoch Times

Criticism

Lujan Grisham and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller criticized President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., after he declared a crime emergency in the nation’s capital on Aug. 11. The president also federalized the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department.

“President Trump’s massive executive overreach in Washington sets a dangerous precedent and undermines safety in our nation’s capital,” Lujan Grisham and Keller said in a joint statement.

Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson during a press conference on Aug. 11, said, “it is disgraceful that we have allowed D.C., to become so incredibly dangerous.”

“I think there’s no more important job for this department than alongside federal law enforcement partners and local police in securing our nation’s capital,” Wilson said.

Meanwhile, Lujan Grisham received criticism for deploying National Guard personnel in her state, including from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico.

A mural depicts the historic Nob Hill section of Albuquerque, N.M., near Central Avenue on Sept. 3, 2025. Allan Stein/The Epoch Times

In April, the ACLU expressed “serious concerns” that military deployment would lead to civil rights violations and further criminalize the homeless.

“All of us deserve to be safe at home, at work, and in our community. We, like so many in Albuquerque, know that that’s not always the case in our city,” Daniel Williams, ACLU of New Mexico policy advocate, said in a statement.

“However, Governor Lujan Grisham’s deployment of the National Guard to support Albuquerque police is a show of force, not a show of solutions.”

A group of people squats in the shade of a building off Central Avenue in the International District of Albuquerque, N.M., on Sept. 3, 2025. Allan Stein/The Epoch Times

Despite this criticism, Lujan Grisham’s office said Operation Zia Shield, now in its third month, has been “highly successful.”

“Initial plans cited a minimum of six months in order to make a positive impact in the community,” a spokesman told The Epoch Times.

Officials will continue to review the situation to decide whether to proceed or end the mission, he said.

Field operations in Albuquerque began on June 5, with National Guard personnel monitoring city streets under the direction of police dispatch.

“Having National Guardsmen assisting with these calls reduces the number of sworn law enforcement officers needed at each call, freeing them up for more serious calls,” the spokesman said.

Jonathan Tafoya stands inside Fonzy’s Barbershop, in the Nob Hill section of Albuquerque, N.M., on Sept. 3, 2025. Allan Stein/The Epoch Times

Since mid-May, Operation Zia Shield has devoted nearly 4,000 hours to responding to 1,216 incidents throughout the city.

These included 210 calls for patrolling neighborhoods, which took 282 hours; 35 calls for medical assistance; 117 calls to assist other officers; 107 special tasks; and 194 calls to patrol public transportation areas.

On July 28, a Zia Shield unit effort provided guard personnel with job training to assist with paperwork and expedite court case processing.

Guard members processed 549 criminal summons and prepared and sent 1,347 officer trial notices, according to the spokesman.

On Aug. 8, selected Guard personnel monitored traffic cameras and earned drone pilot licenses. They flew drones 180 times, totaling almost 39 hours.

One week into the mission, National Guard members monitoring traffic cameras noticed a person who appeared to be having a medical emergency in a bus shelter.

Their observation helped save the person’s life, the spokesman said.

Since Operation Zia Shield started, Guard members have processed 2,248 people under arrest. This allowed police officers to focus on other tasks.

Jonathan Tafoya, owner of Fonzy’s Barbershop along Monte Vista Boulevard near Central Avenue, opened his shop six months ago.

While he hasn’t seen much crime in his area, he thinks using the National Guard to support law enforcement is a good idea, “because there aren’t enough cops.”

‘More Police Needed’

As of Sept. 3, the city has reported 50 homicides so far this year. In 2024, there were 66 confirmed homicides, while in 2023, the number was 73.

The APD has 864 officers who serve a city that spans 189.5 square miles and is home to 558,874 people.

In 2023, 40 APD officers resigned, representing a 32.2 percent decrease from 2002—when 59 officers resigned—and a 36.5 percent decrease from 2021, when 63 officers left the force, according to Police1.

“They need to step up their police presence,” Tafoya told The Epoch Times. “Just hire more cops—but nobody wants to be a cop.”

A police substation in the Nob Hill area of Albuquerque, N.M., on Sept. 3, 2025. Allan Stein/The Epoch Times

Robert, a local business owner on Central Avenue in the Nob Hill neighborhood, said homelessness is a major problem in the city.

“I know in our back alley, they‘ll be back there using drugs, and they’ll try and camp back there, and we’ll tell them to move,” said Robert, who didn’t want his last name used out of fear of retaliation.

The solution, he said, is hiring more police officers. The problem is, “Who wants to be a police officer?”

“It’s a very hard role to fill now because it comes with a lot of politics, a lot of baggage,” Robert said.

“There are no consequences anymore for a lot of things that people do, especially in Albuquerque. The juvenile crime is out of control. Our legislators won’t take action. They give them a slap on the hand.”

Christian works as a cook at a restaurant on Central Avenue. He said he feels sympathy for the homeless but sometimes sees them as part of the problem.

“A lot of homeless people do drugs and everything. We shouldn’t have to deal with that,” he said

A man waits for public transportation to arrive in Albuquerque’s Nob Hill East section on Sept. 3, 2025. Allan Stein/The Epoch Times

Christian, like Robert, believes that using National Guard members to help local police is a “good thing.”

Better Days

Robert recalled that the International District was once known as the “War Zone” because crime was so prevalent.

“It used to be a nice part of town way back when,” he said. “But that’s where a lot of the homeless are now.”

Matthew said every day, people experiencing homelessness gather in the shaded areas along Central Avenue across from the casino.

It can still be a dangerous place, he said, even with police patrolling nearby.

“Everybody’s doing drugs out here, bro. They’re getting their pills and syringes everywhere. It’s disgusting,” he said.

After the police moved the group of homeless people away from the shaded fence, he offered some advice to someone walking by.

“Be safe, man,” Matthew said.

Undersea internet cables in the Red Sea have been cut, disrupting internet access to parts of Asia and the Middle East. The cause of the cuts weren’t immediately clear, though China does have a shiny new deep-sea cable cutter (which we’re sure a bunch of countries have too). 

Associated Press (via NBC) seems to think (‘there has been concern’) that Houthi rebels from Yemen have been targeting the cables, which sounds absurd – though parts of the red sea are only as deep at 100m (330 ft). 

While the Houthis might not have submarines, undersea robots, or the ability to hit the deepest parts of the Red Sea, it’s possible to inflict damage on subsea cables without the backing of a major navy.

In March 2013, three divers were arrested by the Egyptian Navy off the coast of Alexandria after cutting the SeaMeWe-4 cable by detonating underwater explosives. Internet speeds reportedly fell around 60 percent after the incident. A motive wasn’t revealed and it’s unclear if they were charged and/or sentenced for the damage.

In 2007, it was reported that police had seized more than 500km of telecom cable taken by fishing vessels to sell for scrap – including an 11km segment identified as belonging to the SeaMeWe-3 cable. –Data Center Dynamics

So, who knows – but AP (deep state) spends considerable ink on the Houthis 

Undersea cables are a major component of the internet, along with satellite connections and land-based cables, with internet providers having multiple access points through which to reroute traffic if necessary. 

According to Microsoft, the Mideast “may experience increased latency due to undersea fiber cuts in the Red Sea,” though it did not elaborate.

According to internet monitor NetKBlocks, a “series of subsea cable outages in the Red Sea has degraded internet connectivity in multiple countries,” which is says includes India and Pakistan. It blamed “failures affecting the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.”

In August of 2022, the ‘Saudi Vision Cable’ was laid near Jeddah.The Vision Cable spans 1,160km connecting Jeddah, Yanbu, Dibba and Haql, the major subsea hubs in Red Sea cities of Saudi Arabia, according to Submarine Cable Networks.

Beyond that, the South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 4 cable (say that three times fast) is operated by Tata Communications – part of the Indian conglomerate, while the India-Middle East-Western Europe cable is operated by another consortium overseen by Alcatel-Lucent. 

Pakistan Telecommunications Co. Ltd., a telecommunication giant in that country, noted that the cuts had taken place in a statement on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia did not immediately acknowledge the disruption and authorities there did not respond to a request for comment.

In the United Arab Emirates, home to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, internet users on the country’s state-owned Du and Etisalat networks complained of slower internet speeds. The government did not immediately acknowledge the disruption. -AP

Subsea cables can be cut by anchors dropped from ships, on purpose or otherwise. Repairs can take weeks, as a ship and crew must be dispatched to locate and repair the damaged cable.

Meanwhile, huh? 

Gunther Eagleman… no posts in 12 hours
Hunter Eagleman….. no posts in 12 hours
LibTearCreator………. no posts in 12 hours
TrumpUpdateHq…… no posts in 12 hours
Chuck Callesto……… no posts in 12 hours https://t.co/7Dbl7UgsyQ pic.twitter.com/547q1JhHuh

— Aesthetica (@Anc_Aesthetics) September 7, 2025

Authored by Susan D. Harris via The Epoch Times,

Behind the scenes of breaking news, culture wars, and moral division, a significant battle is brewing: mass surveillance vs. the people.

One surveillance technology in particular is rising to the surface of the national conversation: automated license plate readers (ALPR).

Flock Safety, a leader in ALPR technology, is one of the companies in the eye of the storm. Last week, Flock’s CEO and co-founder Garrett Langley made headlines when he released a statement announcing the company was going to “pause” its pilot programs with the U.S. government.

The company said that while it has no current contracts with any U.S. Department of Homeland Security agencies, it did engage in “limited pilots with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), to assist those agencies in combatting human trafficking and fentanyl distribution.”

So why would a company decide not to aid their own government in the fight against human trafficking and fentanyl distribution? Who are the voices that swayed them?

The company’s statement likely stems from criticism (or demonization) of Flock Safety for developing technology that has been adapted for use by ICE agents.

In a July interview with 9News Denver, Flock Safety CEO Langley was asked about the Denver city council voting against extending the city’s Flock contract “out of concerns the system would be exploited for immigration matters.”

Langley straddled the fence:

“Every city needs to make a decision what’s right for them. Some cities work really closely with federal authorities … Now in the case of Denver, if there’s no desire to work with ICE, that’s great. We need to create a safer city while still upholding the values we have.”

Ultimately, however, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, a Democrat, extended the contract through October 2025 after the dollar amount was reset to a figure that didn’t need council approval.

A spokesman for the mayor said the cameras are “an important tool for fighting crime.”

Meanwhile, Denver city leaders formed a special task force to discuss the technology’s privacy concerns. The policy director for the ACLU of Colorado said he would like the cameras turned off entirely—”until there are policies in place to regulate the use of them …”

Reason magazine claims that that “Flock Safety’s 40,000 cameras present in over 5,000 communities across the U.S. are being used to detain undocumented immigrants, many of whom have no criminal history.”

To be clear, it’s not a matter of Homeland Security or ICE agents directly accessing the Denver system—or any ALPR system. It’s a complex issue of state and local law enforcement agencies sharing information or granting access to other agencies. As Denver7 reported, “Flock Safety’s cameras capture billions of photos of license plates each month. However, it doesn’t own that data. The local agencies in whose jurisdictions the cameras are located do, and they’re the ones who receive inquiries from other law enforcement agencies.”

The same issue has been unfolding in other parts of the country as well.

In 2019, the ACLU of Northern California complained of ICE “using driver location data from local police for deportations.” The company at the center of that controversy was Vigilant Solutions. Now a subsidiary of Motorola Solutions, Inc., it too provides license plate recognition technology and intelligence platforms for law enforcement and commercial applications.

As a matter of fact, there are tons of companies clamoring to be Number One in the ALPR industry. Genetec’s AutoVu, PlateSmart Technologies, and Rank One Computing are just a few.

Beyond the field of computer science known as computer vision that encompasses license plate recognition, there also lies the lucrative field of biometrics: the physical field of analyzing body traits and the behavioral field that analyzes patterns. In short, there’s a virtual feeding frenzy happening in the marketplace of digital panopticons. (For a great commentary on Bentham’s panopticon—the prison designed for total surveillance—and the modern era, see “The Age of the Digital Panopticon” on the Neuroscience ABS blog.)

But before we balk at having our license plates zapped into a searchable database, let’s consider the advantages.

Local TV station Denver7 reported that Flock Safety cameras “led to 353 arrests, 251 recovered stolen vehicles and 39 recovered firearms as of August 12.”

Cities like Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, began installing Flock Safety cameras years ago, and law enforcement reports the cameras have made a difference in fighting crime. Fort Worth authorities say the cameras have helped with gun detection, while Dallas police note their use in real-time crime fighting by sending license plate images to the Dallas Fusion Center. (For those not in the know, there are at least 79 fusion centers across the United States, run by state and local law enforcement in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. These centers act as hubs for collecting, evaluating, and sharing intelligence and public safety data.)

Additionally, Flock Safety markets its ALPR technology, as well as its gunfire locator systems, far beyond law enforcement and city management: Companies like Lowe’s and Home Depot use them.

They also sell to neighborhood associations (HOAs), schools, and private individuals. Think of their advantages in emergencies like school or church shootings or Amber alerts. ALPR technology seems to be making us all safer.

Yet as with most of the surveillance technology that we’ve reluctantly embraced “for our own good”—especially after the attacks of 9/11—Americans are having second thoughts about the privacy they’re being asked to forfeit in the name of safety.

The movement against license plate readers is making strange bedfellows: Some conservatives criticize it as government overreach, seeing it as a digital dragnet that tracks all vehicles without probable cause—directly infringing on fourth amendment protections against unreasonable searches. Simultaneously, some progressives are also focusing on it as a violation of civil liberties, alleging that it’s being used to target “undocumented migrants.”

Flock Safety’s recent announcement is the first sign that a company providing this kind of surveillance can be swayed by public opinion. It is a clear harbinger of a larger public debate that will likely drive new legislation at the local, state, and possibly even the federal level. It’s a conversation that is long overdue.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times or ZeroHedge.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott, both leaning left on the political spectrum, announced late last week that additional law enforcement resources will be deployed to support the crumbling Baltimore City Police force, which is suffering from a dangerous officer shortage after years of disastrous criminal justice reforms, including “defund the police” initiatives and other progressive programs that have backfired.

At a joint press conference on Friday, Mayor Scott declared, “We do not need an occupation. We do not need troops on our streets,” adding, “We can do this ourselves.” 

The state plans to deploy Maryland State Police and Transportation Authority officers into high-risk “no-go” zones controlled by violent gangs that have been allowed to flourish under City Hall’s progressive regime, leaving the city plagued by violent crime, which only sparked a population exodus. 

What’s alarming is that Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott only moved to bolster the city’s police force after President Trump’s recent threat to deploy federal law enforcement to restore law and order. 

Years of violent crime chaos, but no action? Why is that? 

• “500 Officers Short” – Baltimore City Faces Mass Cop Exodus

• Baltimore City Implodes: Police Force Collapses, Only Three Officers Patrolled Major District

“Chicago is a hellhole right now, Baltimore is a hellhole right now,” Trump said earlier this month, adding, “I have an obligation …. this is a political thing.”

Mayor Scott stated, “This announcement is about using government resources in a targeted, evidence-based way, in order to make our neighborhoods safer. We are grateful that Governor Moore has chosen to reinstate this partnership after it was eliminated by the previous administration. This is the kind of support we need for our violence intervention work, which has brought crime to record lows across the board. It takes all of us—state, city, and federal law enforcement, including the ATF, FBI, and DEA, community violence interrupters, and residents—to build on this progress and create the safer, healthier Baltimore we know is possible.”

The confusing part is why far-left politicians running the state and city into the ground didn’t act before Trump. Why did it take a strong leader in the White House to force state and city officials to respond finally? Shouldn’t these local leaders be serving the people of Baltimore and prioritizing their well-being?

Yet the optics certaintly show that Moore might serve someone else besides Marylanders.

Sigh Moore… 

Damning photos burn top Democrat Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s 2028 plans to the ground as he’s busted half-naked on kingmaker George Clooney’s luxury yacht in ITALY while his ‘hellhole’ state faces crime apocalypse https://t.co/lkQk7yhjo1 pic.twitter.com/kjYYZpVYVM

— Daily Mail US (@Daily_MailUS) September 2, 2025

And Mayor Scott.

The chart Democrats in the state don’t want the nation to see…

Baltimore is a crime-ridden hellhole. Everyone knows it. Democrats own it, yet there’s been zero accountability for years of failed criminal and social justice reforms that plunged the city into an era of violent crime and death.

Another massive failure is the school system, which enriches leftist unions that, in turn, fuel the Democratic Party’s machine while robbing youngsters of any chance at future success. Democrats preach diversity, yet once they seized power, they shun anyone with an opposing political view.

Authored by David Manney via PJMedia.com,

The Flak in the Sky

During World War II, bomber crews flying over Germany were experts in anti-aircraft ordnance. I’ve read accounts where pilots and crew were able to predict their location by the amount and variety of flak they were receiving. 

Accounts such as these gave rise to popular idioms we use today. In this case, if flak lit up the sky, you knew you were over the target. Nobody wasted shells on empty skies; the closer you were to hitting a high-value target, the heavier the fire.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s secretary of health and human services, is facing such intense anti-aircraft flak that he could walk from New York City to Washington, D.C. without his feet touching the ground. Regardless of the party, senators from both parties shredded him; the media turned his strained voice into a punchline, and worst of all for anybody, his own family publicly demanded he resign, immediately, all in unison.

Whenever we see such coordinated verbal assaults, we know Kennedy is circling something explosive, something Washington elites are desperate to keep buried.

A Hearing That Was Never About Questions

The Senate Finance Committee meeting, on paper, was supposed to cover topics that were nothing more than an ordinary meeting.

The reality, however, was (paraphrasing Hillary Clinton) a mass suspension of belief. Kennedy was grilled by senators who definitely felt as though they might be having their career-defining moment in front of the camera.

Kennedy was grilled hard for firing CDC Director Susan Monarez, tearing down the vaccine advisory board, canceling $500 million in mRNA contracts, and restricting shots for children and pregnant women.

Questions dripped with contempt.

Louisiana Republican Bill Cassidy, a doctor, accused Kennedy of denying people vaccines.

Democrats treated him like some outlaw scientist, living in his own castle, prone to lightning strikes, and being the center of suspicion by local police over grave robberies.

But listen closely: the …wait; no need to listen closely because of all the shouting in voices full of unmitigated hatred. Just turn the volume down instead, and turn the captions on. Makes it easier.

Let’s start that again.

But read the captions closely: The questions weren’t really about medicine; they were about power. Secretary Kennedy has been working to dismantle a system that thrives on crisis, contracts, and revolving door profits. His punishment wasn’t the result of his hard work, which put errors into the spotlight. Instead, he was punished for the simple act of touching the money tree.

That action alone explains the flak.

Flak From Both Parties

Have you ever seen Republicans and Democrats skate with such rhythm and emotion to make Torvill and Dean jealous? Usually, they can’t clap on the same beat, not once!

But against Secretary Kennedy, they moved as though they were gun batteries coordinating a firing solution all at the same bomber plane.

Why?

Because both sides know what happens if his ideas take root.

For instance, what happens when Americans start asking why experimental contracts were rammed through under emergency orders, if people begin demanding receipts for what was promised, and compare them to what was delivered? If people realize that their public health department has transformed into a political cartel, the implications would be yuuge.

Washington can, and has, survived angry voters: One thing that’s deadly for them is exposure.

Family Fire: The Dynasty’s Panic

Then, like something out of a Joan Collins novel, came the spectacle of family betrayal. Joe Kennedy III decided to call his uncle a danger to every American; Kerry Kennedy labeled him incompetent, and Caroline and Jack Schlossberg shouted their relevance with loud disavowals.

With a visual so frightening to those who give a damn, Camelot itself was melting down, while headlines screamed, “Kennedy Feud,” as if Camelot itself were melting down.

Have you ever seen a family feud before? They basically follow the same formula: bickering amongst themselves, which leads to bloodletting. When, however, that bloodletting ends up broadcast like something out of Jersey Shore, you have to wonder if the family is protecting something, right?

For decades, the Kennedy name has been nothing short of a protected brand for liberal orthodoxy. It’s a dynasty that absolutely cannot afford for one of its own to stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump while dismantling the sacred institutions of the bureaucracy surrounding public health.

If RFK Jr. is indeed over the target, as I think he may be, then the dynasty is ensuring the flak will be loud and strong enough to drown out whatever is exposed.

Media Guns on Full Auto

What follows is just a smattering of the flotsam out “there.”

• Bill Maher mocked him on HBO, calling his Senate appearance a train wreck.

• The Daily Beast fired off the usual “nutjob” labels, like flares out of Tom Cruise’s F-14 Tomcat helping him evade a 5th-generation fighter jet.

• Over a thousand current and former HHS staff members signed a letter condemning him.

• Mainstream reporters gleefully picked apart his halting speech, ignoring his neurological condition, which he’s been battling for years.

We’re seeing in real time the media’s role changing from analysis to suppression.

The left isn’t worried about a single hearing, but of what comes next if Kennedy survives the barrage; will he open the filing cabinets, then drag decades of contacts into the daylight? What happens if the American people learn just how badly the swamp is addicted to fear-driven profits?

The intense flak isn’t just noise from a compliant media; it’s a warning shot from an industry that’s protected the orthodoxy surrounding public health for decades.

Speculation: What Are They Hiding?

It’s a question that practically asks itself: What is Kennedy circling that terrifies the swamp so badly? 

Could it be the financial ties between pharmaceutical firms and government health agencies, you know, the one with a revolving door, that push executives out to approve contracts one year and cash stock options the next? How about buried data within the CDC archives that show just how flimsy some of the COVID-era guidance really was? Is there evidence that “the science” was shaped not by discovery, but by the three “P’s”: Politics, Polls, and Paychecks?

Maybe, just maybe, it’s all the above.

Perhaps the flak is intended to prevent him from releasing the payload: evidence that America was deceived during the pandemic, and that deception was fiscally profitable.

My Thoughts: What I haven’t mentioned was just how confusing that period was; nobody knew nuthin’, and we all were scared. Well, I can’t say we ALL were frightened. I had moments of uncertainty until I learned more about COVID, and then I hoped I had a better understanding of what we were up against.

Unless it’s something you can’t afford to lose, you don’t shoot every shell in the battery at the man unless he’s flying directly overhead.

The Trump Variable

There’s another reason for the fury: Kennedy isn’t flying the bomber solo; he’s displaying Trump’s banner on the outside surface of the bomber. Instead of a drawing of a voluptuously beautiful woman named “Mabel,” Kennedy has a MAGA banner.

Each attack on Kennedy doubles as one on President Trump; when we see a headline about a Kennedy train wreck, we know it’s part of the goal of bruising Trump’s cabinet.

Washington understands that if Kennedy succeeds in this mission, Trump scores a direct hit on one of the swamp’s most protected fortresses.

That’s why the incoming fire on Kennedy is so bloody intense.

Final Thoughts

At times, silent European skies were mistaken for safety by bomber crews. They knew if the guns were quiet, they were probably way off target.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. isn’t rocketing through quiet skies; he’s flying through a storm of tracers, explosions, and whatever else gets pulled out of the behind of those worried about something. Senators, media elites, and his own bloodline are trying to shoot the man down, to silence him.

Our lesson couldn’t have had a clearer answer unless RFK Jr. is over the target.

What I want to know is this: Will RFK Jr. stay the course long enough to release what the swamp doesn’t want us to see? I checked and found that I’m not wearing a tinfoil hat to keep the signal out of my head. If I’m right about this, then the American political swamp is just as deep and corrupt as any government anywhere in time.

As frightening as this concept is, I pray we have the correct people in place to find the spot in the swamp marked by an X and start digging. It may take years, but answer this: Is our country worth it? Did that bullet miss Trump’s head because of divine planning that gave us the warriors needed to finally clean Washington up?

I guess we’ll know by the amount of screaming whenever a member of the Trump administration opens a locked door.

After a summer which has seen literally dozens of Ukrainian cross-border attacks on Russia’s vital oil and energy infrastructure, President Putin is increasingly going gloves off, hitting ‘decision-making centers’ in Ukraine with drone and missile strikes, something previously not seen in well over three years of war.

Russia launched its largest-ever aerial assault on Ukraine early Sunday, sending over 800 drones across the country, which included decoys. The prior largest strike, which happened in July, saw around 730 drones sent. At least nine missiles also made impact on Sunday, local officials said. Some sources say the fresh assault may be seen up to 1,000 projectiles launched.

Crucially, this is the first ever aerial strike directly targeted Ukraine’s cabinet of ministers, a major government complex in the heart of central Kiev. Government buildings in the capital have thus far been sparred in the Russian ‘special military operation’ (SMO) – but Sunday’s attack suggests the Kremlin could be turning toward all-out war.

It certainly at the very least is a loud warning at a moment Ukraine has been escalating its own cross-border drone attacks on oil refineries, defense sector factories, and Russian airbases. At least five Ukrainians were killed in the new nation-wide, broad drone assault – including a woman and child in the capital, the NY Times reports.

AFP has said that one of its correspondents witnessed flames engulfing the roof of the cabinet building, verified in emerging photos, with thick smoke rising above the center part of the capital. Several high-rise apartment buildings also were reportedly struck and suffered damage.

The same report noted that for the first time of the conflict, emergency crews are battling blazes at a central government complex, with helicopters seen overhead doing water-drop runs. This government area of the city is typically well-guarded by anti-air defenses, and it looks like the Russians overwhelmed these systems.

The most devastating impacts likely came from the over dozen cruise and ballistic missiles fired by Russia, as tallied by Ukraine’s defense ministry. Only a few of these were intercepted or failed to reach their targets.

The Kremlin is not immediately owning up to hitting the government building, instead claiming that within the Kiev area it only struck a plant and logistics hub connected to the Ukrainian military:

The Russian Defense Ministry said “no strikes were carried out on other targets within the boundaries of Kyiv,” explicitly denying responsibility for the government building strike.

Police cordoned off the area surrounding the building, the roof and upper floors of which sustained damage.

“We will restore the buildings. But we cannot bring back lost lives. The enemy terrorizes and kills our people every day throughout the country,” Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said. She later posted a video from inside the damaged floor showing shattered offices and burned walls.

There remains the possibility that an errant Ukrainian anti-air defense missile fell on the building, or else that it caught fire due to intercepted rocket or drone debris falling. Still, the overwhelming nature of the attack from Russia is signaling a strong message and warning of severe escalation.

Sunday’s attack will certainly cause European leaders to ramp up pressure on Washington go ahead and unleash Trump’s threatened secondary sanctions on Moscow and its trading partners.

Russia always dreamed of striking “decision-making centers.” Now the Cabinet of Ministers in Kyiv is burning. How will the world respond? They are watching. pic.twitter.com/cJb7pHSgOw

— Maria Avdeeva (@maria_avdv) September 7, 2025

Writing further of the significance, NY Times describes:

Rising on a hill and crisscrossed by leafy, cobblestone streets, the government district in Kyiv lies at the center of rings of air defenses. But early Sunday, flames leaped from the windows of the building where the Cabinet of Ministers convenes, and firefighters flew in a helicopter to douse the blaze.

Smoke billowed from the large, colonnaded building, a landmark in the city, near Parliament and the office of President Volodymyr Zelensky.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has quickly chimed in, writing on social social media, “Once again, the Kremlin is mocking diplomacy, trampling international law and killing indiscriminately.”

🔴 As a result of another massive Russian attack on Ukraine, the building of Cabinet of Ministers in Ukraine in Kyiv was damaged, according to local authorities. pic.twitter.com/ewVLqKbAka

— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) September 7, 2025

This will serve to boost the more hawkish members of Macron’s ‘coalition of the willing’ which just met in Paris last week.

The condemnations kept rolling in, with France’s Macron decrying that Russia “is locking itself ever deeper into the logic of war and terror” – the UK’s Starmer slamming “cowardly strikes” which further affirm that Putin “is not serious about peace.”

The Trump effort to get the warring parties to achieve a quick peace settlement now appears completely in tatters – though it was already limping along for weeks.

This puts pressure on Trump from within his own administration too, as hawks will seize and will argue for more major military hardware to be shipped to Kiev.

Authored by Ryan Morgan via The Epoch Times,

The United States is in “very deep negotiations with Hamas” to bring an end to the current conflict in the Gaza Strip, President Donald Trump announced on Sept. 5.

Hamas, which continues to hold hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, has so far rejected any deals to end the nearly two-year Israeli military campaign across the Gaza Strip, despite widespread death and destruction throughout the territory.

Addressing the ongoing hostage situation and the surrounding conflict, Trump reiterated calls for Hamas to release all of the remaining hostages in a bed to end the carnage.

“We said let them all out right now. Let them all out, and much better things will happen for them. But if you don’t let them all out, it’s going to be a tough situation. It’s going to be nasty. That’s my opinion. Israel’s choice, but that’s my opinion,” the president said during a White House press briefing.

In recent weeks, Israeli forces have been ramping up operations in Gaza City, which is located towards the northern end of the embattled strip of territory. The Israeli military has claimed responsibility for strikes targeting high-rises in the city, and footage has shown strikes toppling at least one tower there.

As many as 20 captives may still be alive, though Trump said “there could be some that have recently died, is what I’m hearing.”

“I hope that’s wrong,” he added.

The bodies of around 30 more captives also remain in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas released a video on Sept. 5 with Israeli hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal. In the video, apparently dated Aug. 28, Gilboa-Dalal states that he and other hostages are being held in Gaza City and fear they will be killed in the intensifying Israeli operation.

Trump offered few specifics about what Hamas is requesting in negotiations for the release of the remaining hostages.

“They’re asking for some things that are fine,” Trump began, when asked about Hamas’s demands, but said the initial Hamas attack on Israel—in which around 1,200 were killed and thousands more were wounded—must be taken into consideration in the negotiations.

Throughout the conflict, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has articulated a goal to ensure Hamas is defeated and that the Gaza Strip can never become a haven for the group or similar militants opposed to Israel.

In an Aug. 10 speech, Netanyahu said the Gaza City takeover plan is not part of an indefinite Israeli occupation of the strip. At the same time, he indicated the plan is for Israel to have “overriding security responsibilities” for the territory, while allowing a “non-Israeli, peaceful civil administration.”

Netanyahu said Gaza’s post-Hamas civil authority must be one that “doesn’t educate its children for terror, doesn’t pay terrorists, and doesn’t launch terrorist attacks against Israel.” Netanyahu said these terms would disqualify the Palestinian Authority—which has partial governing authority in the West Bank—from stepping in as Gaza’s eventual civil authority.

In a Sept. 6 statement, Hamas representatives said, “The movement affirms its openness to any ideas or proposals that achieve a permanent ceasefire, a comprehensive withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, unconditional entry of aid, and a real prisoner exchange through serious negotiations via mediators.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pushed back Sunday against growing concerns that the U.S. economy is sliding toward a “jobs recession,” defending the administration’s trade policies, tariffs, and fiscal strategy while signaling confidence that growth will accelerate by year’s end.

In a wide-ranging interview on NBC’s Meet the Press (full interview at the bottom), Bessent rejected forecasts from economists at Moody’s Analytics and elsewhere who have warned that slowing hiring trends and manufacturing job losses point to deeper weakness. Instead, he argued that recent data is noisy, revisions are likely, and that President Donald Trump’s economic agenda remains on track to deliver a “substantial acceleration” in the fourth quarter.

Host Kristen Welker opened the interview by citing Moody’s chief economist Mark Zandi, who recently described the U.S. slowdown as a “jobs recession.” Asked if he agreed, Bessent pushed back:

“We’re not going to do economic policy off of one number,” Bessent said. “Good policies are in place that are going to create good high-paying jobs for the American people.”

He added that August is “the noisiest month of the year” for employment data and stressed that significant revisions are common: “We need good data before we jump to conclusions.”

Tariffs at the Center of the Debate

Pressed on manufacturing job losses since the April rollout of the administration’s new tariffs, Bessent urged patience, noting that factories “can’t be built overnight” citing a “record amount of investment intentions” already underway.

He highlighted July’s passage of the administration’s flagship tax and infrastructure package – the One Big Beautiful Bill, which included full expensing for factories and equipment. According to Bessent, many companies were “holding back” investment until the bill passed and are now planning major capital expenditures and expansions.

Still, U.S. manufacturing employment has declined by 42,000 jobs since April, even as the White House has promised a “manufacturing renaissance”” Bessent attributed some of the perceived weakness to flawed data collection and suggested that upcoming revisions could wipe out hundreds of thousands of jobs previously reported under the Biden administration.

“We’re going to get revisions next week that may be as big as an 800,000-job downward revision,” Bessent said. “I’m not sure what these people who collect the data have been doing, but we need good data.”

Scott Bessent is now claiming Biden’s jobs will be revised downward by 800,000 next week.

Is this why they are sending their own people to the BLS? pic.twitter.com/udOZKfHSdj

— Ron Smith (@Ronxyz00) September 7, 2025

Clash Over Tariff Costs

The interview grew tense as Welker pressed Bessent on widespread reports from U.S. manufacturers that tariffs are increasing costs and forcing layoffs.

Companies including John Deere, Nike, Black+Decker, and the Big Three automakers have warned investors that tariffs are adding hundreds of millions – in some cases billions – in unexpected expenses. Goldman Sachs recently estimated that 86% of tariff costs have ultimately been borne by U.S. companies and consumers.

Bessent rejected those conclusions outright.

“For every John Deere, we have companies telling us the tariffs have helped their business,” he said, citing meetings with executives at Treasury. “They’re increasing capital expenditures and expanding employment. And if things are so bad, why was GDP up 3.3% and why is the stock market at a new high?”

When asked directly whether tariffs amount to a tax on U.S. consumers, Bessent responded flatly: “No, I don’t.”

He also dismissed Goldman Sachs’s analysis, quipping: “I made a good career trading against Goldman Sachs.”

🚨 HOLY SMACKDOWN! Scott Bessent just obliterated NBC’s Kristen Welker – this is one for the ages.

“Kristen, if things are so bad, why was the GDP 3.3%? Why is the stock market at a new high? […] You’re quoting big companies, but the big company index, the S&P, is at a new… pic.twitter.com/eflkLxwMxE

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 7, 2025

Did he though?

Oh well. pic.twitter.com/718tYDdmzo

— iBankCoin, A Reliable Source (@iBankCoin4tw) September 7, 2025

Legal Battle Over Reciprocal Tariffs

Beyond the economic debate, the administration faces a significant legal challenge. An appeals court recently ruled that the administration’s use of reciprocal tariffs violated the Constitution, concluding that only Congress can impose taxes unless specific authority is granted to the president.

The administration has appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court, and Bessent expressed confidence that the justices will uphold the tariffs, citing President Trump’s authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

“I’m not sure on what planet, with 100,000 to 200,000 Americans dying every year from fentanyl, the president shouldn’t be able to use tariffs to stop poison coming across the border,” Bessent said.

🚨 JUST IN: Scott Bessent GOES OFF and says President Trump is CLEARLY in his right to use tariffs because of the fentanyl crisis.

The Supreme Court better uphold the tariffs, or we’ve got issues.

“I’m not sure on what planet this fentanyl crisis with 100, 200,000 Americans… pic.twitter.com/0HhQJJPwhg

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 7, 2025

If the Supreme Court rules against the administration, Bessent acknowledged that the Treasury would be required to refund roughly half the tariff revenues collected — a move he warned would be “terrible for the Treasury.”

Setting Interest Rates and the Search for a New Fed Chair

The administration has also begun the search for a successor to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, whose term expires in May. Bessent confirmed that interviews began Friday and emphasized that the White House is seeking a leader with an “open mind” and a willingness to adapt to what he described as an “AI-driven productivity boom.”

“Alan Greenspan saw the impact of the internet in the 1990s,” Bessent said. “We believe we’re in a similar period now.”

Bessent also criticized the Federal Reserve’s forecasting record, accusing it of consistent bias.

“The Fed has overestimated GDP when Democrats were in office and underestimated GDP when Republicans are in office,” he continued. “We need to get rid of the orthodoxy that has led them to so many mistakes.”

Asked directly whether President Trump would control interest rates, Bessent clarified:

“The Fed chair doesn’t set interest rates. The FOMC sets interest rates. So it is a board.”

He added that President Trump would “make his views known” on policy direction, much like President Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren did when they publicly pushed for rate cuts during the prior administration.

NBC: “Will the Fed chair set interest rates or will President Trump?”@SecScottBessent: “The Fed chair doesn’t set interests rates. The FOMC sets interest rates, so it is a board…”

🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/HdAJde3ppV

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 7, 2025

Escalating Pressure on Russia

The interview ended with foreign policy developments following Russia’s largest aerial attack on Kyiv since the start of the war. Bessent said the administration is coordinating closely with European allies on a package of expanded sanctions and secondary tariffs targeting nations that continue purchasing Russian oil.

“We’re in a race between how long the Ukrainian military can hold up versus how long the Russian economy can hold up,” Bessent said. “If the U.S. and the E.U. move together, the Russian economy will be in full collapse – and that will bring President Putin to the table.”

.@POTUS Trump and @VP Vance had a very productive call with EU President @vonderleyen on Friday.

We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our European partners to follow us: further economic pressure can drive the Russian economy towards a full collapse, and… pic.twitter.com/HfKIyC2WU5

— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) September 7, 2025

The Bigger Picture

Bessent’s interview underscored the high stakes surrounding the administration’s trade, fiscal, and monetary policies. Despite warnings from Wall Street, U.S. manufacturers, and some Federal Reserve officials, the Treasury chief doubled down on tariffs as a central pillar of the administration’s strategy and expressed confidence that the economy will reaccelerate later this year.

The Supreme Court’s pending decision on tariff authority, upcoming revisions to jobs data, and the White House’s Fed chair nomination could all shape market sentiment heading into 2025.

“President Trump was elected for change,” Bessent said. “And we are going to push through with the economic policies that are going to set the economy right.“

Full interview below:

*  *  *

Psst – we’ve got cool velcro-backed patches now.